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Rochester’s efforts to safeguard drinking water quality have received a $29 million boost.
The funding will help the city replace lead service lines and begin improvements to the Hemlock water filtration plant. The city will be able to remove more than 3,000 lead pipes in water delivery lines, says James McDonald M.D., state health commissioner.
The state Environmental Facilities Corp. last week approved funds for a $24 million lead service line replacement project. Lead contamination through aging water pipes has long been a concern for organizations in the fight against lead poisoning. The funding includes a $10 million federal grant to support project costs and $14 million in interest-free financing for the city to pay for construction costs.
The loan will be forgiven with a $14 million State Lead Infrastructure Forgiveness and Transformation Grant after project completion, state officials say.
“This investment helps the city of Rochester continue replacing lead and galvanized steel service lines, keeping our drinking water safe and water bills affordable for our residents,” Mayor Malik Evans says. “We are grateful to Gov. Hochul for her continued commitment to Rochester and to the talented men and women of our Water Bureau who work day and night to protect public health and deliver the highest quality water to our community.”
Rochester also is receiving a $5 million grant to improve the Hemlock water filtration plant. Hemlock Lake is a water source for city residents, along with Canadice Lake. Together, they contribute to the average of 37 million gallons of water that flows through the filtration plant into three reservoirs.
“The Department of Health will continue to work with the Environmental Facilities Corp. and other partners to ensure the water delivered to residents in Rochester and throughout New York State meets the highest standards while keeping water bills affordable,” McDonald says.
Rochester’s grant was announced last December, along with other water quality projects statewide. The funding was awarded through the Water Infrastructure Improvement program, which empowers local governments to affordably advance their drinking water and sewer projects.
The state has made water infrastructure a priority over the last several years. Now, Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed investing $3.75 billion over five years, bringing the total to $10 billion since 2017.
“Gov. Hochul’s investments in water infrastructure ensure communities don’t have to choose between protecting public health and keeping water bills affordable,” EFC president and CEO Maureen Coleman says. “These investments are helping communities like the city of Rochester move their projects forward while keeping costs down.”
Coleman recently was in Rochester to make the announcement.
Smriti Jacob is Rochester Beacon managing editor.
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